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French Defense: Advance Variation, Frenkel Gambit

White Gambit

Source Lichess

You play
Tough Sellloses more often than it wins at this level
All Ratings
Edge at worst−5.1%

White isn't shown winning more often than losing at this level

how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident

Rating TrendPeak: +4.1% at 2500+
0-9992500+
Win%46.5%
Games10K
Breakpoint0-999first rating it isn't shown winning more than losing
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Does French Defense: Advance Variation, Frenkel Gambit work for White at All Ratings?

Snapshot

At All Ratings, French Defense: Advance Variation, Frenkel Gambit keeps White's wins running −5.1% ahead of its losses at worst, 90% confident, from 10K Lichess games. The games don't show this gambit paying at this level. Win rate, draw rate and loss rate come from games played December 2023 to November 2025.

RatingEdge at worstWhite WinDrawWhite LossGames
0-999−38.3%36.5%4.8%58.7%93
1000-1199−16.6%44.5%3.7%51.8%312
1200-1399−21.1%41.2%2.7%56.1%680
1400-1599−16.0%42.5%3.0%54.4%1.6K
1600-1799−9.8%45.2%3.3%51.5%2.2K
1800-1999−6.4%46.4%4.0%49.6%2.7K
2000-2199+3.1%52.1%2.9%44.9%1.6K
2200-2499+2.8%52.5%4.5%43.0%586
2500++4.1%53.0%6.9%40.1%339
Full Opening StatsSee rating/time-control breakdowns for White on the opening stats page
Analyze French Defense: Advance Variation, Frenkel Gambit PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the French Defense: Advance Variation, Frenkel Gambit sound?

At some ratings. White comes out ahead at 2000+; at the other ratings we can see, the games do not show it paying. Where it pays changes with the clock, so set yours above and look again.

What is the French Defense: Advance Variation, Frenkel Gambit win rate?

White wins 46.5% of French Defense: Advance Variation, Frenkel Gambit games, draws 3.5% and loses 49.9%. That rests on 10K games from Lichess.

What is the best rating to play the French Defense: Advance Variation, Frenkel Gambit?

2500+. There White wins at least 4.1 more of every 100 games than it loses (90% confident), its highest Edge at worst.

Is the French Defense: Advance Variation, Frenkel Gambit better in blitz or rapid?

Blitz. For White, the Edge at worst — how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident — is −6.2% in Blitz (5.7K games) and −12.0% in Rapid (1.6K games). In neither do the games show White winning more than losing.

Does the French Defense: Advance Variation, Frenkel Gambit breakpoint vary by time control?

Yes. The first rating where the games do not show White coming out ahead is 1000-1199 in Bullet, 1000-1199 in Blitz and 1200-1399 in Rapid.

How sharp is the French Defense: Advance Variation, Frenkel Gambit?

The French Defense: Advance Variation, Frenkel Gambit is extremely sharp: 3.5% of its games are drawn, so 96.5% end with a winner.

Should I play the French Defense: Advance Variation, Frenkel Gambit?

At 2000+, where White comes out ahead. At the other ratings we can see, the games do not show it paying. Where it pays changes with the clock, so set yours above and look again.

How do I defend against the French Defense: Advance Variation, Frenkel Gambit?

As Black, take the material, then develop fast, castle early, and trade pieces. Give the material back when doing so kills the attack. At 2000+, White still comes out ahead in these games; at the other ratings we can see, the games do not show the gambit paying.

How reliable is the French Defense: Advance Variation, Frenkel Gambit data?

This rests on 10K games from Lichess. Every figure carries the range it is in, 90% confident, and the table above shows how many games sit behind each rating and each clock — the fewer there are, the wider that range.